Oh, how the seasons turn! Didn’t school just finish? Wasn’t I just counting down the weeks and days to go see my son and his family in Oklahoma…and now it’s been three weeks since we got back? Can I even remember what we did on the fourth of July?
Well….two thoughts about all this.
First, we need to be present in the moment. Every day is a God-given gift; full of the possibilities of the Commonwealth of Christ and rich in the opportunities for expressing and sharing God’s love. But we need to be mindful of each of the moments we find ourselves in. God is with us in our ups and downs, in our “ins” and “outs”. As each day is God-given, each day is full of the presence of the Divine – Filled with the Holy Spirit! Let us open ourselves to this loving, inviting, calming presence! Avail yourself of the Holy Spirit’s presence and seize the opportunities God’s love and call for justice presence to you through each day!
One way to do this is to ask yourself, as you move through your day, “How can I be a presence of grace in this moment?” or “How can I best represent God’s love in this situation?” Another might be, “What is the most just thing that needs to happen in this moment?” or “What do the dictates of the gospel ask of me here and now?
Another way to approach intentional discipleship would be to ask yourself, “Where can I find the Christ in this time of Chaos or Crisis?” or “Where can I find the peace of Christ?” at times when I feel distraught or confused?” In being aware of and opening ourselves in the moment to God and the Holy Spirit’s presence, we find an orientation that is life-giving and soul-strengthening!
And second…the Program year is about to start up again!!! 😊 We have a lot of great momentum and enthusiasm going into this new season! An exciting part of that is the finishing of and dedication of the new playground!! Woot, woot! It’s so good to see it being used most every day since we had the block party and ribbon cutting! Families of the church swing by on weekdays and enjoy swinging, and sliding, and spinning and such. Also, many families in the neighborhood take advantage of it and are enjoying it also – just as we have prayerfully hoped! The other day a family was having a picnic as they played!
But also, the new program year means Discovery Zone, and Bible Studies, and Youth Fellowship, and Family Ministry events like Frightfully Delightful, a new Kid’s Fellowship group (grades 4,5,and 6), and Gather the Family Sunday, and Pancake breakfast, and well….all that good, fun stuff brings us back together again! Back from the many trips, and vacations, and time at the lake, or grandma’s….I’m calling us all back to participate in the life of our active, engaged, momentum filled life together as a family of faith!! Come, join the fun. Come, be filled. Come, be restored. Come, be included and woven together in the joy of a life lived together in Jesus!!
Be God’s, Pastor Jim
